Rotary amusement device



July l0, 1928.

ATTORNEY.

July 1o, 192s. l 1,676,522

E. E. CLARK ROTARY AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed March 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY ffm A TTORNE Y.

lfa'tented July l, i928.'

TATS

ROTARY AMUSEMENT' DEVICE.

Application filed March 26, 1927.

My invention relates to a rotary amusement device. Y

The chief object of my invention is to provide a power actuating .means which functions through the law of gravitation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a merry-go-round type of machine that will accommodate a number of occupants while only one occupant is necessary to manipulate the driving mechanism.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the kind herein set forth that is portable and adaptable for municipal play grounds, parks, private homes, etc.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a rotary amusement device that is inexpensive, easily transported and operative by one occupant.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a rotary amuseinent'device eliminating the use of rotatable power actuating shaft, cog wheels and the like, wherebythe mechanism is rendered practically noiseless.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained. A

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the mechanism.

. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the diametrical axis. l

Fig. 4t is an enlarged detailedv elevation of the pedals and cable engaging'means7 parts reu'ioved for Convenience of illustration.

Fig. 5 is a perspective diagrammatical layout of the power actuating means, the levers 'being separated on the center post for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detailed view taken along the diametrical axis of the y center post.

ing a. `in 3 diametrically positioned and outwardly extending. the ends of which enJ extending upward from the by Slotted lines in lig.

Serial No. 178,673.

6. By this arrangement the post is rigidly supported against rotation and as a means v to prevent the post from downward movement I. have vplaced a plate 4 on which the post will rest, the said plate being rigidly attached to the base by means of screws or Centrally positioned in the platform :is a

metal disc member 8 functioning as means to wliichthe beams may be rigidly attached, the said plate having a centrally positioned aperture to lengage rotatably on the post functioning as a bearing. Asa means to centrally support the beams from downward deiiection have provided a collar 9 whichr is rigidly attached to the post on which a Centrally positioned block 10 will engage, the

said block being of equal thickness to the v beams and rigidly attached Vto the disc against which the inner ends of the beams snugly engage.

Rotatably positioned on the -post and having its bearing on the base members is a block 11 functioning as a thrust member` for the inner ends of radial brace members 12, the said members angling upward and connecting firmly to orvnear the Outer ends of the beam 7 and rigidly attached thereto as a peripheral supporting means for the platform. The lower or inner ends of the brace members are supportedv to engagement with'the block 11 by means ofV Z-shaped irons 12 having the ends thereof firmly attached by means ofbolts 13.

As an intermediate bearing between the block 1l and the base member is a pair of concaved washer members 14 which are attached respectively to the'said block and base so that the convex sides rotatably engage for easy rotation of the platform. i

In close proximity but spaced from the edges of the .platformv sections .fis a seat carrying strips 15 the ends of which are rigidly attached4 to theV beam members by metal hangers 16. Paralleling' said vstrips and carried thev outer ende of the beams iio is a second seat carrying member 17' rigidly attached to 4said beams by means o'l corner irons 18.

Positioned on the strips and carried thereby are seats 19, the said seats having metal strips 2() vertically positioned and attached to the insides thereot and extending downward to engage on the ins'de of the strips 15 by which means the are retained in proper position and prevented trom sliding outward by centrifugal torce or otherwise. To prevent displacement by moving inward, the inside of the seat is in contact with the edge of the platform section as shown in Fig. 8. By this manner el' construction the seats will slide longitudinally on the strips as comfortable adjusting means for the occupant.

Pendently supported 'from the strips are steps 21 by means of straps 22, the said straps having a hook 23 on the upper end thereot to engage with the strips, the lower ends tlrmlyconnected to the steps, the said step being a convenient means for moitinting the seat and also a foot restlor the occupant.

A Vsimilar step carried by the strips 17 exclusively is positioned near the operator as shown at 211- in' Fig. 1. It will be understood that the pendent support for the steps 'will slidably engage on their respective bearings to accommodate for the position of the seats, except the last said step 24 which is rigid. y

Supported in a horizontal position by means of the rigidly fixed center vertical .post 1 are two ratchet levers 25 and'26. The

said post serves as an axis upon which the body of the machine revolves by alternately V'applying a weight to either of two pedals 27 and 28 which arependently carried byA hangersQS, the said pedals being connected by cables v,to the outer ends of two ratchet CII levers horizontally positioned on said center vertical post, saidv cables 'passing under or over a series ot small sheaves positioned near the outer edge of the frame ot the machine so that the directional pull oit said cables, will always be at one rside ol the center, thereby creating a leverage causing the machine to revolve when a weight is applied to either pedal.y there being two pedals and two levers. p

The pedals are connected to Vthe ratchet levers by means ot 'four cables, two of which are fastened `to each pedal, the two cables in each instance beingy fastened to the lever arms, one to the front end of one lever arm and the other to the rear end of the other lever armthereby causing a scissor movementot said arms when either pedal is i'gorced down simultaneously with the upward movement of the other pedal. The said levers extend in opposite directions an equal distance trom the center oe the post, a pull on one end of one of the levers causing the load to advance while a pull on the opposite endV of the other lever will'advance the last said lever to a position for a repeated pull. rllhe lever arms functioning in this manner in conjunction with the upward and downward movement of the pedals produce a continuous rotation of the mechanism in one direction.

I will now describe in detail the parts and their operative relation to each other co-acting itor the said continuous rotation in one direction.

Referring specifically to the ratchet mechanism,.attention is directed to Figs. 6 and Z in which is` shown ratchet gears 29 rigidly attached to the center post. Rotatably positioned vthereon are levers 25 and 2G. The said levers have apertures centrally posi'- tioned and with clearance suliicient to rotate without*contacting the teeth ot the gears.

Positioned. in the side ot the aperture is a pawl 29tensioned by a spring 29, said pawl rockably seated and retained in such a way that the free edge thereof will engage with the teeth functioning as a ratchet. As a retaining means "for theproper operative position of the levers relative to the ratchet gear, l have provided discs 30,' toV snugly en'gage on the ends ot theratchet gear, and peripherally in the aperture.A

Positioned on the outside of the discs, and firmly attached tothe levers, are plates 31, functioning as retaining means for the discs, the lower one of said plates,litunctions as a bearing for the levers on their respective collars 32 and 33. collar 33 isa separating member on which the upper lever will reciprocatingly engage, andlilrewise the other lever arm on collar 32.

.Positioned at one corner of the platform is a sheavel support-m1yl member consisting of two plates 34 and 35. The said plates aresupported by meansot a frame 36 as shown in F ig. et. The said frame is rigidly attached to strips 15 and 17. rlhe top of the frame is anchored by a member Si' which is firmly attached to plate Set and to anarch bar 38, the said bars being carried by said strips and braced atvtheir lower ends by means ot a Vdiagonally positioned member 39. The arch bar extends across atits lower extremity functioning fas al stop Afor vthe pedals in their extreme downward movement.

On the under side ot the top plate are vtrunnioned two sheaves l0 and 40, and on the'top ol' the lowerl plate` are two sheaves 4-1 and -l1.- On fthe under side of said lower plate are two sheaves and 42', Yhe said sheaves tnnctioning as bearings on which the Between thelever arms the llf cables heretofore described will engage as y iii?) extending downward dividing so that cable B will engage on sheave stl, and laterally extend to lever 25 connecting to the end as at B. Cable B extends around sheave 42 and laterally extends to lever 26 (onnecting to the end thereof as at 13.

It is noiv` readily seen that by the dovvn- Ward movement of pedal 27 the mechanism ivillA rotate in direction of the arrovv as shown in Fig. l, by reason ol the ratchet in lever 25 stationarily supjiorting said lever and lever 26 is simultaneously rotated on the post to a position for a repeated tension by the doivnvvard movement of pedal 28 functioning as follows:

To the free end of said pedal are riO'idly attached tivo cables C and C', the said cables extending upward engaging' on sheave L10 and downward dividing so that one cable will engage on sheave el and laterally extending to and connecting with the end of lever 26 as at C, the other cable engaging on sheave 42 and laterally extending and connecting to the end of lever as at C. This adjustment is ready for a further rotation through the medium of lever 26 and simultaneously the lever 25 Ais advanced for repeated tension. rlherefore by the reciprocation ofv the pedals the mechanism is continuously rotated in one direction, it being understood that a similar pavvl and ratchet is centrally positioned in the last said lever as described for the first lever.

Attention is further directed to a tension adjusting means for the cables consisting of turn buckles t3 positioned similar to that shown in Fig. 5.

Such modifications may be employed as lie Within the scope of the appended claims.

l-iaving thus described my invention, what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. ln combination, a rotary amusen'ient device having a base supporting member, a vertical center post rigidly attached to said base and on which the device rotates, a pair of ratchet gears rigidly attached to the post, a lever centrally and rotatably positioned on each of said gears, a pavvl in of the pedals, a plurality of sheaves carried by the frame, a pair of cables connected to the free ends of each of the pedals, said cables' engaging on the sheaves, the opposite ends of the cables separately engaging with one end of each of the levers for alternately rocking thereof to rigid engagement with the post by the reciprocating movement ofv the pedals for the coiitinuous rotation of the. said device in one direction.

pedals `peripherally positioned on the `rotatable structure, a pair of ratchet gears rigidly attached to the post in close proximity to each other, a lever centrally posi-v tioned longitudinally and rotatably engaging on eachof said gears, paivls carried by said levers to engage with said ratchet gear so that the rotation of both ivillbe in the same direction, a cable attached to one end oit one of the levers, and a cable attached to the opposite end of the other lever, both of said cables engaging on sheaves and connecting to one of said pedals, a second pair of cables connecting` to the opposite ends of said levers engaging on other sheaves and connecting with the other pedal so that by the reciprocation of said pedals the said levers are rigidly engaged by the ratchets on the center post alternately for the continuous rotation of the mechanism in one direction.

3. In a rotary amusement device, a device of the kind described having radially extending base members and a vertically positioned post at the intersection of saidbasemembers, a polygonal frame rotatably engaging on said kpost and lcarried by the base members, a sectional platform carried by the frame, parallel strips vcarried by the frame and spaced from their respective sections of the platform, seats positioned between the strips, said seats slidably engaging therein .for conveniently locating the same, a pair of pedals pendently carried by the frame, pair of levers horizontally carried by the post so that the ends extends in opposite directions an equal distance therefrom, a ratchet means for each of the levers so that each Will rotate 'in the same direction, means to rotate the frame by the cables tension on the levers alternately and means to position the levers alternately during the rot-ation of said frame, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a rotary amusement device, a base supporting member having a center post fio .llltl vertically positioned and .rigidly attached f thereto, a horizontally disposed platform having supporting beams radially positioned, diagonally positioned brace members to engage vvith the beam members and having their lovver ends trunnioned on the lcenter' post, saidmembers revolvingon the center post, a pair of ratchet gears rigidly attached to thepost intermediate the beam and brace members, strips connected to the beams adjacent the edges of the platform, other strips carried by the outerends of the beams and parallel'A with the first said strips, seats carried by said strips, steps pendently carried by said strips, a pair of pedals pendently 4 vLe? supported by one pair of said strips, a seat for the occupant operating the pedals, a frame having a topl plate and a lower plate as supporting means for sheaves, the top plate having two sheaves to carry one pair of the cables respectively, the lower plate having two sheaves on the top and two yon the under side, one cable to engage on tending over the sheaves on the top plate and from thence to he carried separately by the tour sheaves on the lower plate so that the horizontally positioned portion will connect with both ends oi the levers in such a way that the downward movement of the pedals alternately will tension on one oppositely positioned end of both levers for a scissor movement. the said levers alternately engaging with their respective ratchet gears Causing the rot-ation ot the'said revolvable mounted ineinhers in one direction, all as, and for the purpose described.

En testimony whereof aHiX my signature.

EMERY E. CLARK. 

